Using rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and automatic weapons, a group of insurgents on Thursday ambushed a military convoy in Manipur.
At least 20 army personnel were killed in the worst such attack in recent years. An army spokesperson confirmed that 11 army men were also injured in the ambush.
What Exactly Happened?
Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma, the army spokesperson told The Quint over the phone that the insurgents fired rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) at the 6 Dogra soldiers between 7:30 and 8:00 am at a place between Paralong and Charong villages in Chandel, a hill district. Two out of four vehicles were hit causing the casualty count to rise.
The insurgents, who are suspected to be part of a joint team of the Kangei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khalpang) group, used an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
After the IED blast, the insurgents resorted to heavy firing at two of the four Army vehicles with RPGs and automatic weapons, Army sources said in Delhi.
A suspected insurgent was also killed, police said.
Intelligence sources suspect that about 15 KYKL and KSCN(K) insurgents, led by self-styled Lieutenant Tamba, were behind the attack. After the strike, the group was said to have headed for Thantapin village south of Tamu in Myanmar where the KYKL is believed to have a few training camps. The NSNC(K), with which the Centre called off a ceasefire arrangement, operates from Myanmar’s Eastern Naga Hills.
The 6 Dogra troops constituted a road opening patrol (ROP) which is a part of their routine along the Tengnoupal-New Samtal road, about 80 km from Manipur.
The Times of India reports that the injured jawans have been airlifted to Nagaland.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted his concern over the incident.
Herojit Meetei, the SP of Chandel district told The Quint over the phone that The army hasn’t informed the police till 3:30 pm but an investigation has begun, he said.
Meetei has refused to speculate over the identity of the attackers.
Manipur Home Secretary J Suresh Babu suspected the involvement of Manipur rebel outfit Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in the deadly attack.
“This seems to be the work of PLA, with suspected support by the ‘KYKL’ group also. We are still waiting for more inputs to come in,” he added.
Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) is a Meitei revolutionary organisation in Manipur.
A reinforcement party of the security forces was rushed to the spot for combing operation to nab the militants, police said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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